Shloka 107

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

Pārthiva-pratimā Pūjā-vidhāna — Procedure for Worship of an Earthen Icon

Devanagari script

लिंगमर्थं हि पुरुषं शिवं गमयतीत्यदः । शिवशक्त्योश्च चिह्नस्य मेलनं लिंगमुच्यते

Transliteration

liṃgamarthaṃ hi puruṣaṃ śivaṃ gamayatītyadaḥ | śivaśaktyośca cihnasya melanaṃ liṃgamucyate

Translation

It is called a “liṅga” because it leads one to the true Puruṣa—Śiva, the Supreme Lord. The liṅga is also said to be the union of the emblematic principles of Śiva and Śakti.

Word by Word

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga, sign
• लिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; here used as object in first clause

• अर्थम्: meaning, sense
• अर्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; goal/meaning to be conveyed

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphasis/indeed

• पुरुषम्: the Person (Puruṣa)
• पुरुषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; object of ‘gamayati’

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; apposition to ‘puruṣam’

• गमयति: leads (to), makes known
• गमयति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु) [णिच् causative: गमयति]
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; causative ‘causes to know/lead’

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• अदः: this (statement/thing)
• अदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun ‘this/that’

• शिवशक्त्योः: of Śiva and Śakti
• शिवशक्त्योः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमास (itaretara-dvandva) ‘Śiva and Śakti’; षष्ठी/सप्तमी द्विवचन? here: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी) द्विवचन (dual) ‘of Śiva and Śakti’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• चिह्नस्य: of the sign
• चिह्नस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिह्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; ‘of the sign/mark’

• मेलनम्: union, joining
• मेलनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेलन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; predicate-noun

• लिङ्गम्: liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; subject of passive ‘ucyate’

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive) ‘is said/called’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Ardhanārīśvara

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General liṅga-tattva teaching: liṅga ‘leads’ (gamayati) to Śiva and is defined as the emblematic union (melana) of Śiva and Śakti—an interpretive key used across liṅga-sthalas.

Significance: Frames pilgrimage and worship as soteriological: the emblem is a pedagogical-sacramental means by which the bound soul is led to the Lord through grace.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse defines the Linga as a sacred indicator that directs the devotee toward realizing Shiva as the Supreme Puruṣa, and it highlights the inseparable unity of Shiva (Pati, consciousness) and Shakti (power), which underlies creation and liberation.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

It explains why the Linga is worshipped as a concrete, saguna focus that reveals the deeper nirguna truth of Shiva—serving as a sign that leads the mind beyond form toward the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on the Linga as the meeting-point of Shiva and Shakti while repeating the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), letting the symbol guide awareness from outer worship to inner realization.